The Worst Summer

Chapter 6

Once Harry's feet hit the ground, he started to look around. What he saw didn't look like a Manor, but ruins. Snape took out his wand and muttered an incantation, and a manor of gray stone with a light green roof appeared. There was a tower in the center of the manor that appeared to be five stories tall, while the rest of the manor was three stories. Harry noticed that the temperature was a bit cooler than he was used to. He turned to ask Snape where they were and noticed that Snape and Lupin were halfway to the manor. He ran to catch up with them and said, "Professor, where are we?"

Snape didn't answer at once, instead he ushered them inside. He turned to Lupin and said, "We need to set up some additional wards before doing anything else." He turned to Harry and said, "We are in Germany. I will call a house elf to take you to your room, and help enlarge the items you purchased. Stay there until someone comes to get you."

Snape snapped his fingers and a house elf appeared. The elf bowed low and said, "How may I be of service, Master?"

Snape said, "Take Mr. Potter to one of the guest suites on the west wing. Stay with him until I return."

"Yes, Master." He took Harry's hand and said, "Come this way, Mr. Potter, sir."

Harry let the elf lead him up the stairs and said, "Please call me Harry. What is your name?"

"Master Harry is kind to be asking my name, sir. My name is Fico."

"Well Fico, it is good to meet you." Harry hadn't been paying attention to where Fico was leading him. He could tell it was going to be easy to get lost in Snape's house. Fico stopped in front of a door, and opened it for Harry.

Fico said, "I is hoping this will be acceptable, Master Harry, sir."

Harry looked around in awe. His sitting room was as big as Gryffindor's common room. There was a fireplace. Harry turned to Fico and said, "Can you light a fire in the fireplace? It's a little chilly in here."

"Yes, sir, right away, sir"

While Fico was getting the fire started, Harry explored his suite. He had a large bedroom with a queen size four poster bed similar to the one he had at school. But what really got Harry was his bathroom. It contained a shower and a large bath. 'The Snapes must be rich,' he thought.

Just then Fico came up to him and said, "Is there anything else I can be doing for Master Harry, sir?"

Harry fished out all of his packages, and Fico enlarged them for him. In a flash Fico had everything put away except for the aquarium. He asked, "Where does Master Harry wish for this to go?"

Harry pulled up his sleeve and said ~Calypso, where do you wish for your home to be?~

~Ssomewhere warm, pleasse~

Harry turned to Fico and said, "Please find a table and place it near the fireplace. We'll put the aquarium there, as Calypso wants his home to be warm."

"That is not being necessary, sir. I can make his home warm, sir."

"Ok, then place the aquarium in my bedroom next to my bed. I assume you are talking about a warming charm?"

"Yes, master Harry sir. I can be making it as warm as it needs to be."

They went into the bedroom and set up Calypso's aquarium. Fico asked, "What will your pet be eating, sir?"

Harry looked at the information card he received for Calypso. "It says he will eat lizards, frogs, birds and bats. Do you think there will be a problem getting food for him?"

"No, Master Harry, sir. Master Snape breeds lizards and frogs for his working. I is sure he will be allowing me to use some for your pet."

Harry said ~Calypso, are you hungry?~

~Yess, I needss food ssoon.~

"Fico, when you are allowed to leave, please get something for Calypso to eat."

"Yes sir, Master Harry, sir."

Harry didn't know what to do. He didn't have any of his school books, except for the new ones that Snape had bought him. He hadn't thought about Sirius all day, but with nothing to do, the feelings of guilt and sadness threatened to overtake him again. He also didn't want to take time to ponder what life was going to be like with his new guardian. He wasn't sure if he believed that Snape would keep up his end of the bargain. But so far he had. Harry's wardrobe of new clothes and living quarters was proof of that.

Harry decided what Snape had said earlier was correct. He did need to keep busy. So he went over to his new books and picked up The Art of Meditation, and began reading to pass the time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It had taken several hours, but Severus and Lupin had finally finished placing the extra wards around the manor. Now only he and Lupin could leave, and only his raven and the boy's owl could enter the premises. He looked over at Lupin. "You look spent."

Remus nodded and said, "I am quite tired. But I think we should check on Harry. I'm afraid we might have left him too long."

Severus nodded, snapped his fingers, and Fico appeared. "How is Mr. Potter doing?"

"Master Harry is being sitting on the floor making funny noises, sir. Fico is worried, but Master Harry is saying he must practice, sir."

"And why are you calling him Harry?"

"Master Harry is saying he not like being called Mr. Potter. He is wanting me to call him Harry."

"Very well, as long as he asked you. However, you will remember to call me and Mr. Lupin by our formal names."

"Oh, yes sir, Master Snape sir."

Severus turned to Remus. "I think it is time to check and see how well Harry is practicing. We are going to try and sneak up on him, and I might test his Occlumency skills. Please don't be alarmed."

Remus nodded and said, "Okay, but please don't be too hard on him."

Severus nodded and they headed up the stairs.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Harry noticed his senses seemed to be more alert that ever before. He could hear so much more in his meditative state. He heard two pairs of feet entering his sitting room. He stood because he could hear them coming towards his bedroom. He looked for something to protect himself with, as he still had not gotten his wand back. Seeing nothing else, he picked up a candlestick holder that was on a table beside his bed. As the door opened, he lifted the candlestick holder and swung it down on the head of the first person who entered the room. Unfortunately that person was Severus Snape.

Harry dropped the candlestick holder and backed up quickly until he felt the wall behind him. Professor Snape was going to kill him, he was just sure of it. Snape glided over to Harry and said in a dangerous, low voice, "Was that really necessary?"

"Umm...sorry, sir," said Harry as he studied his hands. Snape said, "What did I tell you at the book store about being afraid to answer my questions?"

Harry looked up and said, "You said not to be afraid and to look at you when I talk to you."

"Indeed I did. I am not angry at you. Fico told me you were practicing meditation, and I was testing you to see how well you were doing. Good job. Could you hear both of us approaching?"

Did Snape actually give him a compliment? This was a day to record in history!! Harry said, "Yes, sir."

"Now, I want you to focus on clearing your mind of emotion. I am going to test your occlumancy skills. I want you to repel me with your mind, so I am not giving you your wand."

Harry took a deep breath, and focused on the meditation he had learned earlier. He heard Snape say, "Legilimens."

He heard Snape talking to him, but continued to focus on his meditation. He felt the spell ending and opened his eyes.

"That was acceptable, Mr. Potter. I could hear you chanting inside your head, but could not get past that to your memories. But you still have a long way to go if you will repel the dark lord. In the next week I will test you to see how well you repel a surprise attack. I want you to continue reading the meditation book, practice for half an hour each day, and empty your mind before sleeping. I also want you to keep a journal of all your dreams. I picked one up at Flourish and Botts. It should be with the other books I bought for you. I want to know if you are having nightmares or dreams sent by the Dark Lord. In addition, I want to know if your scar is hurting. Are we clear?"

"Yes. But what about my summer homework? Do you have my trunk? Do you know where Hedwig is?"

Snape looked annoyed at the barrage of questions. He said, "First, I have a few assignments that I feel are more important than your summer homework, one of which I have already given you. Once you have done those, you will be allowed to finish the other assignments." Severus pulled Harry's shrunken trunk out of his robes, set it at the end of Harry's bed and enlarged it for him. "I still have your wand and your invisibility cloak. You will get them back when I feel you are handling your grief appropriately and will not harm yourself. As far as your owl, I'm sure she will find you. I have set the wards so that she will be able to come in."

Severus then motioned for Harry and Lupin to follow him and led them to the dining room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dinner was a quiet affair, and soon it was time to retire for the evening. Remus walked Harry to his room. The first thing Harry noticed was that there was a new door in his sitting room. "Where's that door lead to?"

Remus said, "Severus thought you and I could share a sitting room, so he had the rooms rearrange themselves a bit."

Harry said, "You just want to keep tabs on me."

Remus said, "I am concerned, Harry. But if it bothers you that much, I will ask Severus to change the rooms back tomorrow."

"No, that's alright. I would rather you be near to me than Snape. He may be my guardian now, but I still don't trust him." Harry turned and went into his bedroom. He changed into his nightclothes, and told Calypso goodnight. It had been an eventful day and Harry was exhausted. He fell asleep quickly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry was sitting in the same dark, curtained room he had visited in his dreams last year. He looked down, and saw the same white long-fingered hands. They were Voldemort's. But this time Harry was aware that he was himself inside Voldemort's mind. He looked through Voldemort's eyes to see two figures kneeling in front of him, Wormtail and Bellatrix Lestrange.

Lestrange said, "I'm sorry my lord, but they have evicted the dementors from Azkaban, instead using trolls and Aurors to guard the prisoner's. There are many of them and I do not know how we will be able to free the prisoners."

Lestrange hung her head in shame. Voldemort said, "You have failed me again. You know the penalty. CRUCIO!"

Harry's scar seared with pain, forcing him to wake up. He sat up, clutching his scar and breathing hard. At that moment Remus walked into his room. He said, "What's the matter, Harry? I heard you screaming."

"Voldemort's mad because they've taken the dementors away from Azkaban."

Remus snapped his fingers and Fico appeared, "How may I be of service, Master Lupin, sir?"

"Bring a cold compress and awaken Severus and ask him to come to Harry's room."

Fico started shaking. "Awaken Master Snape, sir?"

"Yes Fico. But be sure to tell him I ordered you to, so you don't get in trouble."

Fico was still shaking, but disappeared and reappeared immediately with the cold compress before disappearing again.

Remus had Harry lie down and put the compress on his forehead, before sitting down on the bed next to him. Harry said, "Snape is going to be mad."

"Why do you think that, Harry?"

"I forgot to clear my mind. I was so tired that I fell asleep before I could do that."

"We all make mistakes, Harry. Just try to remember next time."

Just then, Snape entered the room. "How is it, Potter, that you managed to interrupt my sleep your first night here?"

Harry said, "I had a dream."

Snape motioned for Harry to continue and Harry related the contents of the dream and that for the first time he was aware that he was inside Voldemort during the dream.

Snape said, "Did you--"

Harry interrupted, "No, I fell asleep before I could clear my mind." Harry steeled himself for the tirade he was sure to come.

Severus was angry. Did the boy listen to nothing he said? What was it going to take for Potter to understand this wasn't a game; the fact that he had been possessed at the Department of Mysteries made this a life and death situation. "Do you think I give instructions just to hear myself talk? Why did you not do as I asked?"

Harry said softly, "I forgot."

Snape said, "Then perhaps an evening assisting me in the lab will help to jar your memory. In addition, I expect the assignment I gave you earlier today to be completed by lunchtime tomorrow. Is that clear?"

"So you're giving me a 'detention' just for forgetting?" said Harry louder than he meant to.

Snape crossed his arms and glared at Harry as he spoke, "Yes, and if you do not wish it to be two nights I suggest you check that attitude of yours."

"Yes sir," Harry said in a dejected voice.

"You understand, of course, that I will need to let the headmaster know about this, and that he may learn of our plans sooner than we wanted."

"Why? Can't you just pretend you are sending it from Aunt Petunia's house?"

"That will only be possible if your owl returns soon. If I use mine, he will know we are not there."

Remus got up and Severus sat down in his place. Harry's reaction to this was immediate. He sat up and drew his legs up towards himself, while scooting as far into the headboard as he dared, and looking apprehensively at Snape. Severus picked the cold compress that had fallen and set it on the bedside table, and then said, "I will not harm you, Potter." He reached over and touched Harry's scar. Harry flinched. The scar was still quite hot. He said, "Is your scar hurting?"

"Just a little bit. It always hurts some when I have the dreams. I'll have to get used to it if I'm going to practice Occlumency."

Snape crossed his arms and gave Harry the patented 'You best tell the truth or I will make your life a living hell' glare. He said, "And why is that, Potter?"

Harry rested his head on his knees, looked down and said, "It hurts worse and I feel more of Voldemort's feelings after Occlumency lessons."

Snape flinched at the mention of Voldemort's name, and said "I have repeatedly told you not to use the dark lord's name. You will not say it again in my presence. Why did you not tell me about your scar hurting last year?"

"I thought you would just get mad and tell me I wasn't practicing enough."

Snape sighed exasperatedly, and reached over and forced Harry to look at him. "I will say again, you need not be afraid to be honest with me. If I had known last year about this, I would have changed the content of your lessons and provided you with a topical pain relieving potion to help with the pain in your scar. I cannot help you if you do not tell me the truth."

Looking sufficiently chastised, Harry said, "Yes, sir."

Snape snapped his fingers and Fico appeared. "Yes, Master Snape, sir?" he said in a timid voice.

"Retrieve the blue potion on the third shelf at the east end of my lab. In addition, bring me a vial of dreamless sleep."

"Yes sir, right away, Master Snape, sir." Fico disappeared and reappeared a moment later with the vials. Snape dabbed a few drops of the blue potion on Harry's scar and massaged it in. It felt like a cool breeze across Harry's face, and immediately the burning stopped.

Snape said, "You can use this up to four times a day. If you have used it that often and are still having pain, you need to let me know."

Snape took out his wand and transfigured the cold compress into a goblet. He poured half of the vial of dreamless sleep into it, and handed it to Harry. Harry drank the potion and lay back down. Snape placed the blue vial on Harry's bedside table, stood up, and left the room, robes billowing behind him. Remus told Harry goodnight and left the room also.

Harry didn't know what to think. Who was the real Severus Snape? He had figured Snape might be a little different than he was at school, but the Snape he had seen the last two days was a lot different. You couldn't call him caring, per se, but he was definitely much more tolerable. Harry fell asleep contemplating the new professor Snape he was getting to know.